God had instituted circumcision as the sign of the covenant with Abraham (Gen. 17:12) and confirmed the rite under the Mosaic covenant (Ex. 4:24-26; 12:48-49). Now, before the people of Israel could claim the land of the covenant, the sign of the covenant-circumcision-needed to be restored. The people of Canaan had heard how God had miraculously parted the Jordan, and, as a result, "their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites" (Josh. 5:1). This fear allowed the men of Israel to recover from the effects of circumcision without being attacked.
